Britain Declares War on Austria
Great Britain enters war with Austria.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1914 in Great Britain — Page 4
Explore 490 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1914.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1914
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 490 unique records.
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August
Declaration of War
Great Britain is at war with Austria
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
The BEF cross the Channel to France
Baltic Naval Strength Memorandum
Churchill records that Britain cannot command both the North Sea and Baltic before defeating Germany's main fleet.
Battle of Mons
Commands the 5th Cavalry Brigade against the Germans at Mons
Battle of Mons
French deploys the BEF near Mons before retreating toward the Marne.
Battle of Mons
Awarded the Victoria Cross
Battle of Mons
Awarded the Victoria Cross
Battle of Mons
Awarded the Victoria Cross
First Army
The German First Army sufferss heavy losses but force the British back to the River Marne
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Murray summoned the Corps Chiefs of Staff at around 1am on 24 August (the night after the Battle of Mons), and ordered them to retreat, but gave them no detailed plans, leaving them to work out the details themselves
Maritime War Rules Considered
Addresses British policy toward international maritime rules governing wartime commerce.
Sir John French Despatch Reported
Reports information from Sir John French concerning the British Expeditionary Force in France.
BEF Casualties Reviewed
Addresses early casualty information concerning the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
Compulsory Service Question Answered
Responds to parliamentary questions about whether compulsory military service will be introduced.
Emergency Service Age Extension Discussed
Addresses proposals to extend the age limits for men available for emergency military service.
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse Sunk
Reports the destruction of German auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse by HMS Highflyer.
Wartime Public Meetings Addressed
Discusses the conduct of public political meetings while the country is at war.
Army Recruiting Appeal Renewed
Uses a Commons statement to reinforce the national appeal for voluntary Army recruits.
Battle of Mons
Driven back from Le Cateau
Belgian Resistance Address Moved
Moves an address expressing admiration for Belgian resistance and British determination to support Belgian independence.
Press Bureau Policy Defended
Answers questions about the wartime Press Bureau and the handling of military information.
Army Enlistment Measures Discussed
Reviews practical measures intended to speed the enlistment of wartime volunteers.
Battle of Heligoland Bight
The Royal Navy wins an early North Sea action against German light forces off Heligoland.
Battlecruiser Force Withdraws after Heligoland
Beatty withdraws his battlecruisers after the German light forces have suffered severe losses.
Belgian Refugee Assistance Addressed
Addresses arrangements for Belgian refugees displaced by the German invasion.
Casualty List Publication Addressed
Answers questions about publishing official lists of British military casualties.
German Cruisers Engaged at Heligoland Bight
Beatty's heavy ships overwhelm German cruisers encountered during the closing phase of the battle.
Heligoland Bight Intervention Ordered
Beatty commits his battlecruisers despite mine and submarine risks to support the hard-pressed British flotillas.
Heligoland Bight Support Force Moves In
Beatty moves his battlecruisers toward the fighting after British light forces come under increasing pressure.
Heligoland Bight Victory Secured
Beatty's intervention helps turn the confused action into a clear British naval victory.
Home Rule Wartime Suspension Managed
Explains wartime handling of Irish Home Rule legislation while hostilities continue.
Press Censorship Dispute Addressed
Responds to criticism concerning censorship and the treatment of newspaper reporting during the war.
Wartime Government Statement Delivered
Gives Parliament a further statement on the developing war and the Government response.
Army Expansion Programme Approved
Secures government support for expanding Britain's small professional army through successive volunteer formations.
Battlecruisers Assigned Long-Range Support Role
Beatty's force is used as fast heavy support for British cruiser and destroyer operations in the North Sea.
Bristol Aircraft Production
Bristol aircraft production expands for wartime service.
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Chief of Staff to the BEF
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.